Vehicle power door system

• US 10,344,519 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Linden, Howard Paul Tsvi, Ekanem, Onoyom Essien, Xiao, Jevon, Radjewski, Christopher Matthew, Khan, Muhammad Omer
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chi Q
• Application Number:
  US15/484,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20180291666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 49 31, 49279, 49 29, 49 30, 49 28, 49333, 49338, 49339, 49340, 49348, 49334
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/006 with means for detecting obstacles outside the doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/025 specially adapted for vehicle doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors

Abstract

A power door system for a vehicle includes a door connected to a vehicle body, a door actuator comprising a clutch and a braking system and adapted to displace the door between a plurality of open positions and a fully closed position, and a controller system configured to disengage the clutch on determination of a manual door open or close operation. The controller system is further configured to engage the braking system on a determination that the manual door close operation exceeds a threshold door closing speed. The controller system is further configured to cause the braking system to stop the manual door close operation exceeding the threshold door closing speed at a spaced distance from the vehicle body, to re-engage the clutch, and to actuate a power cinch function to displace the door to the fully closed position.

Claims

1. A power door system for a vehicle, comprising:

a door connected to a vehicle body;

a door actuator comprising a clutch and a braking system and adapted to displace the door between a plurality of open positions and a fully closed position; and

a controller system configured to disengage the clutch on determination of a manual door open or close operation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller system comprises at least a Body Control Module and one or more Electronic Control Modules.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the clutch is an electromagnetic clutch and the braking system is an electromagnetic braking system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller system is further configured to engage the braking system on a determination that the manual door close operation exceeds a threshold door closing speed.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a power cinch function.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller system is further configured to cause the braking system to stop the manual door close operation exceeding the threshold door closing speed at a spaced distance from the vehicle body, to re-engage the clutch, and to actuate the power cinch function to displace the door to the fully closed position.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the door actuator further comprises a motor operatively connected to a check strap.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the clutch is disposed between the motor and the check strap.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the braking system is disposed in a housing for the motor.

10. The system of claim 2, further including one or more proximity sensors associated with the door and communicating with the controller system.

11. The system of claim 2, further including one or more position sensors associated with the door and communicating with the controller system.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller system is configured to receive one or both of a door lock/unlock and an open/close command received from one or more switches disposed in a passenger cabin of the vehicle, one or more door handle sensors detecting a manual operation of a handle of the door, and one or more vehicle-exterior devices.

13. A vehicle including the power door system of claim 1.

14. In a vehicle having a power door system comprising a door, a door actuator comprising an electromagnetic clutch and an electromagnetic braking system and adapted to displace the door between a plurality of open positions and a fully closed position, a power cinch function, and a controller system, a method comprising:

by the controller system, receiving an input indicative of a manual door open or close operation; and

by the controller system, disengaging the electromagnetic clutch.

15. The method of claim 14, including providing the controller system comprising at least a Body Control Module and one or more Electronic Control Modules.

16. The method of claim 14, further including engaging the electromagnetic braking system on a determination by the controller system that the manual door close operation exceeds a threshold door closing speed.

17. The method of claim 16, further including, by the controller system, causing the electromagnetic braking system to stop the manual door close operation exceeding the threshold door closing speed at a spaced distance from the vehicle body, to re-engage the electromagnetic clutch, and to actuate the power cinch function to displace the door to the fully closed position.

18. The method of claim 16, including, by the controller system, determining that the manual door close operation exceeds a threshold door closing speed by one or more position sensors associated with the door.

19. The method of claim 14, further including configuring the controller system to receive one or both of a door lock/unlock and an open/close command received from one or more switches disposed in a passenger cabin of the vehicle, one or more door handle sensors detecting a manual operation of a handle of the door, and one or more vehicle-exterior devices.

20. The method of claim 14, further including providing one or more proximity sensors associated with the door and communicating with the controller system.